Move comes after years of significant progress statewide in expanding, strengthening educational opportunities; Board search underway for successor Mississippi First founder and Executive Director Rachel Canter announced today that she will transition from the organization in 2025. The move comes after a transformational period for public education in Mississippi, with more and higher-quality educational opportunities…
Read MoreAn announcement
Dear friends, colleagues, and supporters, I was 19 when I decided that I would devote my life to what eventually became Mississippi First. It was the summer of 2002, and No Child Left Behind was set to go into effect that fall. I had spent the summer as an intern in the Mississippi Governor’s Office…
Read MoreMississippi First Releases 2023 Public Perception of Charter Schools Survey Findings
Jackson, Mississippi—Mississippi First is pleased to announce the release of the 2023 Public Perception of Charter Schools survey report, which provides critical insights into public understanding and support of charter schools in Mississippi. This comprehensive survey was conducted by the Survey Research Lab (SRL) at Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center. The survey captured responses from a…
Read More
2024 Legislative Review
By Toren Ballard, Director of K-12 Policy and Micayla Tatum, Director of Early Childhood Policy An historic rewrite of Mississippi’s school funding formula and the subsequent allocation of record amounts of public education funding headlined an eventful inaugural session for Mississippi legislators elected this past November. The 2024 legislative session will also be remembered…
Read More
Mississippi First Releases Its First Public Perception Survey of Early Childhood in Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi—Mississippi First is proud to announce the release of its newest report, 2023 Public Perception of Early Childhood Education in Mississippi, which provides valuable insights into Mississippians’ views on the importance, affordability, and accessibility of early childhood education. The survey results underscore the widespread public support for pre-K and early learning initiatives across the state….
Read More
House Bill 4130: Mississippi School Funding Formula
Committee Education Author Rob Roberson Session 2024 Session Latest Action On May 8, the Governor signed HB 4130 into law. Explanation of the Bill Once approved by the Governor, House Bill 4130 will replace the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) school funding formula with the Mississippi School Funding Formula (MSFF). MSFF is a weighted student…
Read MoreSenate Bill 3231: PERS Changes
Committee Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency (Senate); State Affairs (House) Author David Parker Session 2024 Session Latest Action On May 9, SB 3231 became law without the Governor’s signature. Explanation of the Bill Once approved by the Governor, Senate Bill 3231 will increase the PERS employer contribution rate by 2.5% over five years, starting with a 0.5%…
Read More